Stories and otter things

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Face Value

In the waves of apologies that followed the Hillborough report yesterday there is something that bothers me. Yes we had confirmation that the Police told lies to shift the blame onto the fans. Kelvin McKenzie apologised for printing the smears.
However, given that 96 people had died why were the Government and much of the press so willing to accept those lies?
It has been the failure to challenge the lies by those in power that has protracted the process for the victims.
My guess is that the smears chimed with pre existing stereotypes of football supporters and of Liverpudlians. That made the lies an easy sell.